Caught in the crossfire: 21 children have been shot and killed in Oakland since 2011

OAKLAND -- Since 2011, five children 8 years old and younger have been shot and killed in Oakland.

Many of these young victims were killed in the safest of places: attending a sleepover, being held in their father's arms, being pushed in a stroller by mom, following dad as he took out the trash at his taco truck.

The youngest, at 16 months, was killed early Wednesday while sleeping in a home with family. He was in Oakland for the funeral of a family member who was shot dead Saturday.

The five victims are among 21 boys and girls under the age of 18 who have been killed in Oakland homicides since 2011.

Drew was sleeping with family inside a Brookfield Village house when someone fired shots into a bedroom from outside the home. Drew was struck and later died at Children's Hospital Oakland. His father, 20-year-old Andrew Thomas, a former Castlemont High School student who had moved to Fresno, was also shot and died at the scene. Investigators are looking into whether the shooting was prompted by a feud or retaliation for a prior incident. The family was in Oakland for the funeral of a relative who was shot and killed Saturday.

Alaysha died during a sleepover at a friend's house after someone rang the doorbell and sprayed the apartment front door with gunfire as the girl walked toward it. Two other children, 4 and 7, and a grandmother were also wounded but survived. Alaysha, a bubbly girl known as "Ladybug," was buried in a pink casket. No arrests have been made.

David Manson Jr., 17; killed June 2, 9100 block of International Boulevard.

David was fatally shot by a gunman who fled on foot. He died at the scene and his friend, also a 17-year-old boy, was shot in the leg but survived.

Isaac Johnson, 17; killed May 11, 6100 block of Adeline Street.

Issac, a Berkeley High School junior, was found shot in the head on a sidewalk at about 10 p.m. He was put on life support until 2:30 p.m. May 24, when he was pronounced dead.

Olajuwon Clayborn, 17; killed May 5, 86th Avenue and Dowling Street.

Olajuwon, a high school basketball player, was standing with another man and talking to a girl on the sidewalk outside his home when a gunman walked up and shot him. He was pronounced dead at 10:26 p.m.

Tyler Frank Jamison, 17; killed Feb. 9, 4000 block of Quigley Street.

Tyler, a Berkeley resident, was shot at about 10:30 p.m. in what police said may have been a gang-related shootout between two groups in the Laurel district of East Oakland. Tyler died at the scene.

Ken Harbin, 17; killed Jan. 11, 9400 block of Hillside Street.

Ken was killed at 8:15 p.m. No motive has been established in the case and no arrests have been made.

Tyronta was the city's first homicide victim of 2013. He was shot multiple times at 12:47 p.m. while sitting in a car in a parking lot. He was alone in the car when authorities arrived.

2012

Jubrille Jordan, 15; killed Dec. 30, 6600 block of Lion Way.

Jubrille was shot and killed at 3:40 p.m. while walking with another teen near the Lion Creek Crossing housing estate. Jubrille, who aspired to be a teacher, was the second teenager killed at Lion Creek Crossing in 2012.

The two girls were each shot multiple times and left for dead on the sidewalk, a gruesome scene that was discovered by several residents who heard the shots at about 6 a.m. Prosecutors have said the girls were killed during an adolescent lovers' quarrel that turned deadly. Police arrested 18-year-old Diantay Powell, the accused shooter, who has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Antonio Edwards, 20, is accused of driving Powell from the scene and is awaiting trial as an accessory to the crime.

Taiteanna Turner, 16; killed Aug. 8, 2700 block of Talbot Avenue.

Taiteanna, the mother of an 8-month-old baby, was shot and killed outside Oak's Market and Liquor.

Gabriel, who lived in Alameda with his parents, was shot and killed while following his father, who was taking out the trash near the East Oakland taco truck he owned. In August 2012, police released sketches of two possible suspects, and received dozens of tips, but no arrests have been made.

Hiram Jr. was with his father, Hiram Lawrence, as he left a West Oakland liquor store at about 6 p.m. when three men turned a corner and fired into a crowd in the parking lot. A bullet struck the baby boy, leaving him a coma for 11 days before his family took him off life support. Authorities have charged Fredrick Coleman, 17, with the killing, saying it was fueled because Hiram's father and two fellow rappers filmed a music video that disrespected a West Oakland gang. Coleman is awaiting trial.

Carlos' mother was pushing him in a stroller on a two-block walk home from a convenience store when police say two men driving by opened fire and a stray bullet hit Carlos in the neck. The intended target was a drug dealer, police said. Lawrence Denard, 28, and Willie Torrence, 24, have been charged in connection to the killing and are awaiting trial.

Najon Jackson, 16; killed July 31, 9300 block of Sunnyside Street.

Najon, who was described by family and friends as a playful teen, had returned home from playing basketball when he walked outside to talk to a girl on the phone shortly before midnight. He was shot, and later died at Highland Hospital.

Ditiyan was shot and killed at about 2:30 p.m. while riding a bicycle home from school with a friend. Police said Michael "Fat Mike" Heartsman jumped from a car and shot at Ditiyan and his friend because of a long-simmering gang feud. Heartsman was 23 when he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for the killing.

Lovell Hadnot, 15; killed Jan. 8, 5800 block of Bancroft Avenue.

Described as a joker, Lovell was a sophomore at Fremont High School at the time of his death. He was fatally shot at about 5:10 p.m. while walking across a parking lot.

Darnell Barr Jr., 17; killed Jan. 1, 3100 block of High Street.

Darnell, the city's first homicide in 2011, was shot and killed at about 12:09 a.m. outside an apartment complex. Three other men were wounded.